Bandra Lake's beauty treatment begins in December first week

The BMC is finally set to begin the much-awaited beautification of the Bandra Lake from the first week of December. Located close to the Bandra railway station, which falls on its western side, the 200-year-old water body was also called Lotus Tank and Motha Sarovar.

The work has already been delayed by around four years, given opposition by locals, fund issues and objections raised by Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC), which wants the BMC to incorporate certain changes in its plan to revamp the water body.

With civic officials agreeing to mend their plans as suggested by the MHCC, the five-month work will be commissioned over the next 10 days, standing committee chairman Yashodhar Phanase confirmed after a meeting was held to review the status of the work.

"The lake has heritage significance. It is important not only for Bandra, but for the entire city. Hence, we are going to fast track the work. I have instructed officials concerned to procure the MHCC's nod," Phanase said after discussing the issue with officials from local ward office (H-West), heritage and garden departments. The MHCC meeting is likely to be held this week.

Among the factors the MHCC has raised objections to, is BMC's old plan to have a walkway on the banks of the lake, spread over an area of 7.5 acres and falling under grade II heritage water body. The committee felt it would reduce size of the lake. To allay the objections, Phanase said there will be no walkway in the new plan. The beautification plan also includes installing a musical fountain at the centre of the water body and provisions for boating.

"The size of a proposed amphitheatre here will also be smaller," Phanase added.